As more and more people learn about the field of orofacial myofunctional therapy, I field a lot of emails that ask can anyone become a myofunctional therapist?  Do you wonder the same thing..”Can anyone become a myofunctional therapist?”

As the world at large learns more and more about myofunctional therapy and it becomes mainstream conversation in many dental and orthodontic offices, dental auxiliary staff are often the first ones to be interested.  Those auxiliary personnel are either asked by the dentists to become a myofunctional therapist, or they see the dollar signs so they curiously inquire. (Most of the people who contact me are interested in the lucrative earnings of a myofunctional therapist.)

So, exactly…can anyone become a myofunctional therapist?

The field of orofacial myofunctional therapy is, at the time of this writing, an unregulated profession.  There is not a governing board or a license and there is no true distinction for what an OMT is (if you Google OMT, you will learn about Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment).  

It is recognized in the scope of practice for registered dental hygienists, speech language pathologists and dentists.  There are some other specialties that practice orofacial myofunctional therapy such as physical therapists and some occupational therapists, but mostly you will see it as a “specialty” service of dental hygienists and speech language pathologists.

This is where it gets tricky and where people like me get cranky.  The reason that I get cranky is because I want to protect the industry and the legitimacy of it.  Some doctors think that orofacial myofunctional therapy is tomfoolery, even when there is plenty of research to back it up.

I get cranky because there are some people training “therapists” who shouldn’t exactly be offering myofunctional therapy.  When a program starts training massage therapists, personal trainers and acupuncturists I think it’s getting into some gray areas that could ultimately hurt the field.  I can assure you that the reputable training programs limit the training to those who specifically have it listed in their scope of practice.

The Myofunctional Therapy Training Academy is proud to say that we uphold the highest standard when it comes to this topic.  If you can’t produce a license, you can’t enroll.  Period.  I’m doing my part to keep the industry legitimate.  I also do not think that a massage therapist, personal trainer or acupuncturist have the necessary education and background to be offering these services.  Yes, they know anatomy, but certainly not at the level that a dentist, dental hygienist or speech therapist does. And…they might not even be able to get insurance.

Can anyone become a myofunctional therapist through the Myofunctional Therapy Training Academy?

No, definitely not.  While we’ve had dentists and speech therapists take our programs in the past, the training inside the Ditch Hygiene Academy is specifically for dental hygienists.  It is my specialty, my jam if you will, to teach dental hygienists exactly what I’ve done to create a multi-6 figure business.  It wouldn’t make sense for me to train a dentist or a speech therapist because the program is all about ditching dental hygiene. The terminology and examples are all from a dental hygiene background.

There you have it my friend!  Now you know the answer to the popular question “can anyone become a myofunctional therapist?”

Just my two cents worth, but if you want to get started in the field of orofacial myofunctional, it would behoove you to take your training from a program that only trains professionals who have myofunctional therapy within their scope of practice.  I would be happy to welcome you into the Ditch Hygiene Academy when the doors open next time!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to me at myotrainingacademy@gmail.com so I can answer your questions before our next enrollment begins!  

😘

P.S.  Have you read my article on Why I Left Dental Hygiene?  It’s a surefire way to get you exciting for your upcoming journey into myofunctional therapy.

About the Author, Carmen M. Woodland

Carmen is a powerhouse myofunctional educator, whose “secret sauce” is teaching women how to build their own, incredibly satisfying career in myofunctional therapy.  She is obsessed with all things myo, myofunctional therapy business, marketing, social media, content, data, revenue, goals, and helping you navigate the messy and magical journey to becoming an authority in the myofunctional therapy niche.

She teaches you the tried and true secrets to building a career you’re in charge of, and one that’s life-changing for both you and your clients.

Shy away from the hard stuff?  No way, Carmen gets down in the trenches with you, just like your favorite gal-pal there to cheer you on.  Her no-nonsense-tough-love-common-sense-solutions-oriented approach is the real reason that she gives you the kick in the pants you need.  Carmen is your one-stop shop to learn everything you need to know about delivering effective orofacial myofunctional therapy, and building a thriving, profitable myofunctional therapy business.

A dental hygienist who got tired of watching unhealthy people slip through the cracks.  She took her 15 years of dental hygiene experience, completed advanced post-graduate training in orofacial myofunctional therapy, earned a prestigious M.B.A. (Masters in Business Administration), grew a successful orofacial myofunctional therapy business, and now she works from home with clients around the world and runs an extremely popular mentoring and business training program.

If you find your passion intersection at the corner of Myofunctional Therapy Avenue, Dental Hygiene Highway, Female Entrepreneur Boulevard, and Work From Anywhere Way…then get cozy here, because you’ve found your unicorn!  Carmen is here to educate, encourage, and empower you while she teaches you all the things!